10 Common Hiking Mistakes

Hiking is a fun sporting activity, but any mistakes you make can be dangerous and even life-threatening. Here are ten that you must avoid.

Wrong Footwear

The first mistake that amateur hikers often make is wearing the wrong footwear. If you are going on a long hike, you should purchase hiking boots. Trainers aren’t going to cut it, but they will cut into your feet, leaving you with painful blisters. Thick socks are also advisable.

Not Checking The Weather

If you do not check the weather before you leave, the hike could be dangerous. You need to make sure you are prepared for different weather conditions, including fog. If fog falls while you are hiking, you may find it difficult to find your way back. There’s no excuse to not check the weather, with so many apps and websites available, like the BBC, to give you accurate information.

Forgetting A Map

Of course, you can get lost hiking, even when the weather is beautiful, and the sun is shining. That’s why it’s important to take a map and make sure you have orienteering skills. You must make sure you can read the map, and you should not rely on a phone or satnav. You never know when you might lose signal.

Not Taking Shelter

Ideally, you should be taking some form of shelter on the hike with you. You can purchase a tent that can be set up in seconds for shelter from the elements. These are cheap and well worth the purchase for a professional hiker.

Not Wearing The Right Clothing

Wearing the wrong type of clothing will lead to both discomfort and danger. If you are hiking in a cold climate without the right clothing, you could get a nasty chill. You might even catch pneumonia.

Not Taking Different Clothing

The weather conditions can change fast on the mountain. This is why, if you hike, you should be taking different types of clothing. It might be sunny when you set off, but you should still have a thick jacket in your backpack.

Forgetting A Compass

You will be able to find your way to safety in any weather condition, as long as you have a compass. If you know which direction your starting point was in, you will always find your way back off a mountain. For this reason, a compass is a vital piece of hiking equipment.

Not Telling Anyone Where You Are Going

Don’t forget to tell people that you are going out on a hike. You should let them know when you plan to get back and tell them you’ll call to notify them of your return. Make sure you provide details of where you are hiking as well as your route. If the worst does happen this will ensure a rescue party is sent out and that they can easily find you.

Forgetting A Med Kit

You should always take a medical kit with you when you are hiking. There are plenty of injuries and accidents that can happen, including a sprained ankle. You can fix a sprained ankle and make it easier to walk on if you have a good kit.

No Food And Not Enough Water

Finally, you must make sure you take a good supply of food and water. If you don’t do this, you could succumb to fatigue during a hike. Again, this can be dangerous. Make sure you take food that is easy to prepare and gives you plenty of energy, including bars of chocolate. These bursts of energy can help you continue a hike, even when you are nearing a point of exhaustion. There are some seriously amazing Kickstarter campaigns for water collection and storage you should check out.